Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang: Football's most in demand superstar?

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Photos:Dortmund far too strong for weakened Spurs

Borussia Dortmund's Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has been one of the outstanding players of the season both in German and in European football this season.

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Photos:Dortmund far too strong for weakened Spurs

Dortmund 3-0 Tottenham – Dortmund fielded a full strength side for the Europa League last-16 first leg clash against Tottenham Hotspur. The visitors made a number of changes with star striker Harry Kane starting on the bench.

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Photos:Dortmund far too strong for weakened Spurs

Dortmund 3-0 Tottenham – It was Aubameyang who opened the scoring with a fine header as Dortmund piled the pressure on its opponents.

Marco Reus added two more in the second half as Dortmund cruised to a 3-0 victory.

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Photos:Dortmund far too strong for weakened Spurs

Dortmund 3-0 Tottenham – Kane was introduced to the fray late on, but could have little impact against a sturdy Dortmund defence.

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Story highlights

Borussia Dortmund defeats Tottenham in Europa League

German side wins first leg of last-16 encounter 3-0

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Marco Reus on target

Return fixture in London next week

(CNN)Dressed in black and yellow and with the sting to match -- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang proved why he's one of the most lethal in the business.

There are few players more in demand than the 26-year-old striker and the current African player of the year showed once again why Borussia Dortmund is so desperate to keep him -- and why the likes of Real Madrid and Arsenal has been linked with luring him away.

His 33rd goal in 38 games helped ensure Borussia Dortmund will take a 3-0 advantage into the second leg of its Europa League last-16 tie against Tottenham next week after the German side blew its opposition away with a typically high octane performance.

Marco Reus added two of his own to Aubameyang's strike as Tottenham, still in with a chance of winning its first domestic league title for the first time in 55 years, was soundly beaten.

This was always going to be a difficult test for Tottenham, which rested leading scorer Harry Kane, while Dele Alli, one of the breakout stars of the Premier League season, was missing through suspension.

Dortmund, which has won nine of its past 11 games and has not lost since December and started at a pace which most teams would struggled to keep up with.

It was Aubameyang, who created the first real opportunity of the game as the home side scythed through the heart of the Tottenham defense with considerable ease.

Running towards goal, he produced the perfect pass to unlock the Tottenham back line but Erik Durm contrived to slide his effort wide of the far post.

Dortmund, which was held to a goalless draw by Bayern Munich last weekend, continued to threaten and Aubameyang volleyed inches over the crossbar after finding space inside the penalty area.